Established in 1875, the Conférence Olivaint is the oldest student association of France, created in memory of Father Olivain ... t by Jesuit Fathers seeking to initiate young people to charitable activities. Throughout the years, the Conférence Olivaint progressively oriented itself towards a focus on public affairs, a field which is today the primary interest of its members. In between the two World Wars, the association welcomed members from various political backgrounds, such as French politicians Robert Schuman, Pierre Mendes France or George Bideault. In 1968, the Conférence was secularized, under the leadership of Herve de Charette (President of the Alumni branch) and Laurent Fabius (in charge of the Youth branch). Notable alumnis of the Conférence Olivaint include various personalities of French political life since 1945, such as Jacques Attali, Michel Bon, Raphaël Hadas-Lebel, François d'Aubert, Michel Barnier, Jean-Michel Belorgey, Christian Blanckaert, Jean-Louis Bournalges, Michel Charasse, Hervé de Charette, Jean-Pierre Chevènement, Jean-François Deniau, Laurent Fabius, François Heisbourg, Brice Hortefeux, Elisabeth Huppert, Jérôme Jaffre, Antoine Jeancourt-Galignani, Jean-Noël Jeanneney, Francis Lorentz, Didier Maus, Olivier Mazeaud, Frédéric Mitterrand, Christine Ockrent, Erik Orsenna, Dominique Perben, Etienne Pfimlin, Alain Poher, Louis Schweitzer, Michel Vauzelle, Eric Woerth, Jean Ziegler, François Zimeray. read more